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(No Model.) 9 sheets-sheet;Y 2. T. CAHILL.

PIANOFORTE AGTION.

No. 554.109. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

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(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. GAHILL. PIANOFORTE ACTION.

No. 554,109. Patented Peb. 4, 1896.

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T. GAHILL.

' PIANOFORTE .ACTUEL No. 554,109. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

Lz W4 o o I' l .0/5 /Kl O i l l minesse: Invenzr- `MLM YZMMMMQ (No Model.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 5. T. GAHILL.

' PIANOFORTE ACTION.l

lPalfented Peb. 4, 1896.

M. PHUT07Lm-I0. WASHINGTQN. DL.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

T. CAHILL. PIANOFORTE ACTION.

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

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(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

(No Maciel.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 8.

T. GAHILL.

, PIANOFORTE ACTION.

No. 554,109. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

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9 Sheets-Sheet 9.

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L. TIGN.

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

PIA

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnADDEUs oni-nm., on NEW YORK, N. Y.

PIANOFORTE-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,109, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed March 2 l, l 8 9 3. v

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known. that I, THADDEUS GAHILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, but residing temporarily at VaShingtOn, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianoforte- Actions, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a sympathetic power action for the pianoforte, simple and durable in construction, requiring but little power to operate it, and so constructed that the power required by the action maybe given to it by the performer without having his attention distracted from the operation of the keys; and my invention consists in the parts, improvements and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

rlhe essential parts of my invention are (a) a rotatably-mounted shaft, cylinder or drum, serving as a friction-driver, traction-shaft or tractor; (b) means formounting this shaft so as to reduce to a minimum the power required to impel it; a foot-pedal arrangement for iinpelling the friction-driver, traction-shaft or tractor, said pedal arrangement being constructed in such a manner that it maybe struck at any time by the performer, with more or less force, and the force given to it by the performer be transmitted to the friction-driver; and (d) means for transmitting power from the friction-driver to the hammer, controlled by the key, all of which will be more clearly explained in the following` description,'made with reference to the drawings, and in the statement of claim contained in the latter part of this speciiication.

Figure 1 is afront elevation of the device, showing the friction-driver and the means of mounting it and of impelling it, the actionrails,action-brackets,hammers an d connected parts not being shown. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the device on the plane of the line a: .t in the preceding figure. Fig. 2 is an enlargement of a part of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a detail sectionalelevation on a larger scale than Fig. 2, illustrating more clearly a portion of the mechanism shown in said Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation on the line y y, Fig. l. Fig. G is a detail plan view illustrating the seria No. 467,098. (No model.)

.mounting the friction-driver so as to reduce its friction to a minimum forms the subjectmatter of still another application of even date herewith, Serial No. 467,097.

The present application relates to the footpedal arrangement and its combination with other parts of the device.

The whole machine is illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the specification, because it is thought that a general knowledge of the whole is necessary to a perfect understanding of any given part.

The main frame of the action consists essentially of upright or vertical ribs A A, connected together by an upper horizontal rib, A', and a lower horizontal rib, A2, said ribs A and A2 being also connected by shorter vertical ribs A3 and A4. Said action main frame is made of cast-iron or other suitable material and is placed in a suitable position with relation to the main frame of the piano, which latter, as it forms no part of my invention, and differs greatly in dierent instruments, is not shown in the drawings.

Retaining-boxes l) b, in line with each other, are attached to the main frame by studs and bolts. (Not seen.) In these boxes the traction-shaft or friction-driver C is set. the mechanism is adjusted as it should be no part of the weight of the friction-driver C falls on the boxes h b. They serve only to retain it in its proper position to prevent the displacement of it. Hence I callv them retaining-boxes. There is nothing peculiar in the construction of these retaining-boxes. Any suitable form of box or journal may be used. Three -boxes c c e2, exactly similar to each other, are mounted upon stud-posts c3 c3, so as to be capable of swiveling thereon. The stud-posts c3 c3 c3 are attached to the IOO main frame A by nuts c1 cL c4, (not seen in the main view,) while similar nuts cL eAl cL serve to retain the boxes c c c2, respectively, on their stud-posts. A supporting-wheel (l lies normally under the center ol' gravity of the i`riction-driver c. A shaft tl/ is attached Vfast to the wheel (l. Said shatt d." passes through a vertically-movable retaining-box d2 and through the swiveling box c. It rests upon the suliiporting-whecl c. A shaft c is attached :tast to the wheel c. Said shaft c passes through a vertically-inovable reta-ining-box e2 and through the swiveling box c'. lt rests upon a supporting-whccl A shaft j" is attached fast to the wheel f. Said shaft f passes through a vertically-movable retaining-box f2 and through the swiveling box c2. A weight-wheel (Zhaving a hub (Il, attached to the shaft (Z, and a similarl but heavier weight-wheel c2', having a hub c", is attached to the shaft e.

g, g, g2, g2, g", g5 and g are collars attached to the shafts (l, c', and f by set-screws. (Not shown in the drawings.) Displacement of the shaft d. in the line oi its axis is prevented by the hub d* and the collar g, which lie on opposite sides ot' the box c and in close proximity to it.

Displacement et the shaft c in the line of its axis is prevented by the hub c" and the collar g', which lie on opposite sides ol' the box c and in close proximity to it. Displacement of the shat't f in the line of its axis is prevented bythe collars g2 and ci, which lic on opposite sides ol' the box (r2 and in close proximity to it. rlhe retaining-boxes cl2 (a2/2, rcspectively, are prevented trom displacement in the line of the axes ot' their respective shafts d, c', and j" by the collars g4, g5, and g, respectively, and by the greater diameter of their respective shafts tZ, ci, and j between said boxes d2, c2, and f2, respectively, and the wheels d, c, and f', respectively, the diameters of the shafts df, c, and f within their respective vertieally-movable retainingboxes being the same as their diameter to the right oi' said boxes, while their diameter to the left of said boxes is greater. The boxes cl2, c2, and f2 are exaetlysimilar to each other and are held in place by the main-frame rib A and the plate AS. The latter is held in place by studs A A2 and retaining-nuts. These studsa consist ot a central portion oi' larger diameter and end portions of smaller diameter, threaded at the extremities. They are secured to the main-frame rib A by nuts A22 A22, and the distance between the rib A2 and the plate A"l is slightly greater than the thickness of the boxes d2, c2, and f2, so that said boxes are free to move vertically, but are kept from horizontal displacement. A lever (l5, swivelingly mounted on a stud-post d and carrying a weight d?, exerts a pressure upward on the box d2 exactly equal to the weight ol' said box. A similar lever, c,

swivclingly mounted on a stud-post c and carrying similar weight, c7, in like manner exerts a pressure upward on the box c2 exactly equal to the weight ot said box. rlhe wheel di is made of such a weight that the shaft d' balances on the supporting-wheel c when the weight oi' the friction-driver C is resting upon the wheel (l. ln like manner the wheel c3 is made of such a weight that the shaft c/ balances upon the supportiiig-wheel f when the vweight of the friction-driver C and the weight of the shat't d, and the parts attached to it rest upon thc wheel c. A weight h is set upon a rod h, which is attached to a casting h2, which is swivelingly mounted ou a stud-post 7L" and held in place thereon by anut 71.*. A puslrbar if is attached by the center-pin 7L to the casting 712. The rod /1' is threaded and the weight 7L is adjusted thereon by nuts hi' and 7N. The weight 7L is made of such a mass and is so adjusted on the rod 7b that it exerts an upward pressure on the box f2, through the push-bar lr, exactly equal to the downward pressure on said box of the shaft j" and the parts whose weight it bears. Thus the weight ot' the frictiondriver is borne in the first place by the supportingevheel d, which transmits it, by the sha'i't d, to the wheel c, which in turn transmits it by the shaft c to the wheel ll". lt will be seen also that as the parts are proportiontnl in the drawings the angular velocity olf the wheel (l :is much less than that ot' the frictiondriver (l, and the angular velocity ot the wheel c is much less than that ot the wheel d, and the angular velocity ot the wheel fis much less than that ol' the wheel c. ln this manner the friction is very greatly reduced.

j is a 'foot-pedal. projecting out in front ot the instrument beneath the keys and in convenient reach ot the performer. lt is ful` crumed upon a bar and held in place bythe pins and The bar is attached to the support A, which projects forward from the main frame A and is attached to said main 'frame by a stud A5 and nut A27. The piuj" is driven into the bar] and the pinj into thc support A55. lVads ot' l'eltj'l and f serve to limit the motion et the :toot-pedal. An es capement-lever 7V' is pin-jointed to the pedalj'.

L is an adjustable jack-stop, which at tached to the standard 7a2 by screws 7.: i'.

7u is a stop against which the lever 7.1 is new mally pressed by a concealed spring.

A momentum-piece or momeutuin-wheel m is attached fast to the shalt fm, which is mounted in a lever m2, said lever havin au extension of circular cross-section at right angles to itself, which extension li'orms a box or bearing for the shaft m'. The lever m2 has a shaft nr attached to it, which shaft is swivelingly mounted in a standard mit, which is bolted to the main frame A. A retaini ug-nut m5 prevents displacement of the shaft nl. in the line oi its axis. The lever m2 normally rests upon the top of the standard l, and when said lever is in its normal position the momentum-wheel m lies in close r xi1nity to the wheel c, but not in contact therewith. A

ICO

ITO

crank m6 is attached to the shaft m. Said crank is connected by a center-pin m7 with a pitman m8, which is connected by a center-pin m2 with a bell-crank lever n, which is supported by a stud n fixed in the standard l. Displacement of the lever n in the line of its axis is prevented by a retaining-nut n2. A coiled spring p, one of whose ends is attached to the shaft m and the other to a pin n4, set in the lever fm2, holds the pitman m2 normally in contact with the felt wad n, attached to an arm or projection Z of the standard t. A rod o is supported by flanges o' o', which are attached to the main frame A by bolts o2 o2. The rod 0 forms part of the frame, the other parts of which are a front rod, o3, and two side bars, o4 o4. These parts o, o3, o4 and ol are rigidly attached toeach other so as to form a stiff frame. A rod 05 is swivelingly mounted on the side bars, 01 04. To this rod o5 are rigidly attachedan upright traction-piece o6 and a shorter upright piece 07. The traction-piece oG lies in front of the momentum-wheel fm. A contractile spring o8, one of whose ends is attached to the main-frame rib A2 and the other to the piece 07, which is connected with the traction-piece o, tends to press said piece 0G against the momentum-wheel m; but a pin o2, set fast in the pitman m8, presses the upright piece 07 and so holds the traction-piece o6 away from the momentum-wheel m whenever said pitman is in its normal position of contact with the felt wad m5. An arm q, rigidly attached to the rod o, is connected by a link or pull-piece q' with a lever q2, which is supported by a pin q2, set in the standard 4Z. Said lever q2 is connected by a push-bar q with the lever m2.

When the pedal j is pressed down by the performer, the escapement-lever or j aok k rises and throws up the horizontal armA of the bell-crank lever n and forces in the vertical arm of said lever, which, through the centerpin m2, pitman m3, crank-pin m7, and crank m6, gives to the shaft m and mom entum-wheel m an angular motion in the direction of the normal movement of watch-hands. When the horizontal arm of the escapement-lever 7s strikes the j ack-stop 7c the vertical arm is withdrawn from contact with the horizontal arm of the bell-crank lever n, and the pedal ceases to impel said lever n and the parts connected therewith and is arrested by the felt wad jl; and so long as the pedal is held down by the performer the vertical arm of the lever 7U' is held clear of vand away from the horizontal arm of the bell-crank n. The momentum of the momentum-wheel m carries it on, after the pedal ceases to impel it, until the resistance of theopposin g spring p overcomes its ois @tra and begins to turn it in a direction contrary to its former motion and to return the parts to their normal positions. So soon as the momentum-wheel m begins thus to move in a direction contrary to watcl1-hands, under the influence of the spring p, the traction-piece o, which is pressed against the vlever H.

stop is made.

H5 lies under the end of the pressure-leverE wheel m by the contractile spring os pulling on the piece 07, rises under the iniiuence of the traction of the wheel m, and in rising draws up the frame composed of the side bars, ol o4, front rod, o3, and back rod, o, and so draws up the arm q, attached to said rod o, which draws up the link q', and the lever q2, which,thro ugh the push-up Q4, raises the lever m2 and presses the wheel m against the wheel e. The momentum-wheel m now rolls in contact with the friction-driver e under a considerable pressure, and gives out the power stored in the spring p to the friction-driver c, and so returns to its normal position. Just before it reaches this positionj ust before the pitman ons strikes the felt wad vif-the pin o, fixed in the pitman m8, strikes the upright piece o7 and moves it and the traction-piece o, connected with it, in opposition to the contractile spring 0S, thus forcing the traction-piece o away from contact with the wheel m, and holding it away from said Wheel, which, under the iniuence of gravity, immediately falls away from its position of contact with the wheel e, the lever m2, to which the wheel m is connected, coming to rest in its normal position of contact with the top of the standard Z.

D is the key; E, the hammer; E, the hammer-shank; E2, the hammer-butt, which is pin-jointed to the pressure-lever F, which last is attached by the liange G to the action-rail a. The hammer-butt serves as a contactpiece to take power from the friction-driver C. The lower surface of said hammer-bu tt E2 is curved, the center from which the curve is described being the center of the pin by which the hammer-butt E2 is connected with the pressure-lever F.

H is the reach-up, which is pin-jointed to the bridle-levers H and H2, which are attached by flanges H3 and H4, respectively, to the action-rails a and a2, respectively. A jack or fly-lever H5 is also pin-jointed to the An expansive spring HG holds the jack H5 normally in contact with the adjustable stop H7, which is attached to the rail a by a screw passing through an elliptical slot in said stop H7, whereby adjustment of said In its normal position the jack and in close proximity thereto. A push-bar 7c is pin-jointed to the hammer-butt E2 below the center of attachment of said hammer-butt with the pressure-lever. A weight K serves to balance the push-bar on the pin by which it is connected with the hammer-butt E2. The pressure-lever E rests normally in contact with the action-rail a2 and holds the curved hammer-butt E2 in close proximity to, but free from contact with, the friction-driver C. The front part of the push-bar K lies between the lower surface of the action-rail a3 and the upper surface of the reach-up H. The damper-lever L is attached by a iiange L to the rail a4. A spring holds the damper normally in contact with the string M, to which it corresponds. A push-bar,L3 is .connected IDO IIO

with the damper-lever and arranged in the path of motion of the liainmer-luitt, so that the han'imers movement toward the string withdrzms the damper from. contact with the string. 'lhe shaft C is rotated in the manner already described.

lVhen the key D is depressed by the performer it raises the reach-up Il, which through the intervention of the bridle-lever ll and jack or fly-lever lll moves the pressure-lever F from its normal position and presses the curved surface of the hammer-butt against the moving friction-driver G, which at once exerts a traction on said hammer-butt approximately proportional to the pressure on the key and throws the hamn'ier toward the string M. As the hammer E moves toward the string, the push-bar K moves toward the jack ll'", and at or about the instant the hammer strikes the string the push-bar K forces the lever ll.5 out from under the pressurelever F, which immediately returns toits normal position, raising the hammer-butt E2 from contact with the friction-driver C and so releasin said hammer-butt from the traetion of said friction-driver. At the same time the reach-up ll, under the influence of the pressure on the key, rises a little and pushes and presses the push-bar l against the action-rail ci", by which it is arrested. The hammer now rebounds and retreats from the string a certain distance, the force of the rebound. being broken by the friction ot' the push-bar K against the top of the reach-up ll and the bottom of the rail a, against which it is pressed by said reach-up. ln this position the hammer is held until the key is released, when the parts return to their normal positions.

A modified construction in which the m0- mentum-piece acts directly upon the frictiond river is illustrated in Fig. 7. 2 is a still bar, rib or rail, firmly bolted to the rib A2, about the center of the .instrument and projecting forward from Asaid rib. 3 is a rock-shaft lying parallel with the rib A2 and extending from near the center of the instrument down to the base side or end of it. Said rock-shaft is suitably supported by the bar 2 at one end, and at the other end by a similar bar, (not seen in the drawings,) and is provided with a forward-exteiiding arm 3 and a rearwardextending arm 3l. The arm il lies near the center of the instrument in a position where it may be conveniently acted upon by the foot of the performer. The arm 3b lies to the left of the arm Il and carries a jack l, which is spring-pressed against and lies normally in contact with the upright piece il. The jack el, lies normally with its top immediately under the front end of a lever 5, which is fulcrumed upon a centerIl attached to a bracket 5b, which latter is firmly bolted to one of the upright ribs A of the action main frame. rlhe jack-stop is marked il'. The momentumwheel m is revolubly attached to the shaft m', which is mounted on the lever m2. Said lever m"l has a shaft m3 attached to it, which is journaled in the arm A2'3 extending back from the upright A. A coiled spring p tends to urge the momentum-wheel m in the direction in which watch-hands normally move. A pitman m8 connects the lever 5 with momentum-wheel m. A lever o, serving as a traction-piece, lies in a position ot' close prox.- imity to the momentum-wheel fm', and is normally drawn toward said momentum-wheel by the action of the contractile spring ol. Said lever 0 is fulerumed upon the lever il. Said lever 0 is centered on a pin i set fast in the projection A33 extendingl forward from the upright A, and is connected by a link li" with the lever m2. A bell-crank lever 7, earrying a push-up 7", and f ulcrumed at the point 7, is connected by a link T with the tractionlever o". The push-up 7 serves when the lcver 5 is in its normal position to hold the traction-piece o away from contact with the 1nementuni-wheel nt; but so soon as the lever 5 is moved from its normal position by the action of the parts il, il, El" and l, in the manner hereinafter described, the spring o presses the traction-piece o" against the momentum-wheel n2.

The operation of the device is as follows: `\Vhen the rock-shaft arm 3, which serves as a pedal, is depressed by the performer, the arm 3" rises, and through the jack et, lever 5 and pitman ms moves the momentu11i-wheel (in opposition tothe spring p) in the contrary direction to that in which wa-teh-hainls move. Then the longitudinal arm of the jack .l strikes the jack-stop l, the jack is withdrawn from under the end of the lever 5, so that it no longer serves either to move said lever and the momentum-piece, or to block their movement; and in this position the jack remains so long as the arm 3 is held down. Meantime the momentum-wheel continues its motion under the influence of its acquired momentum, until its fuis t'z'rd is spent upon the springp, and it comes to rest. The spring p now returns the momentum-piece to its normal position. The n1omentum-whcel, in thus returning to its normal position, shoves down the traction-piece o", which through the lever G, link G and lever on@ presses the momentum-wheel m firmly against the frictiondriver C. The momentuin-wlieel. thus returns to its normal position, rolling in contact with the friction-driver, and giving out to the friction-driver the power stored in the spring p by the preceding movement of the 1nomentum-piece. At or about the instant the momentum-piece reaches its normal position the lever 5 bears up upon the push-up TL and through the bell-crank lever '7 and link 'C forces the traction-piece oaway from eentact with the n1omentum-wheel 1a, whereupon said wheel falls away from contact with the friction-driver C, leaving said part free to move on unimpeded.

Fig. S (which is drawn to a larger' scale than the preceding drawings) illustrates still IOO IXO

another modification, lin which the momentum-wheel has no motion save its rotary motion, but acts on the friction-driver through a bar or equivalent connected with the momentum-piece so as to be moved thereby and arranged to be pressed against the frictiondriver when the momentum-piece is returning to its normal position, so that it conveys power from the momentum-piece to the friction-driver. rl"he rock-shaft 3, with its arms 3 and 3b, the jack 4 and jack-stop 4, the momentum-piece m, with its axle Im@ contractile spring p, traction-piece 0G, and spring o3 will be understood from the description already given. attached at one end to the momentum-piece, so that it is moved thereby. Said bar S lies between the friction-driver C and a small light wheel 9. Said wheel 9 is carried by the lever 9, which is fulcrumed at 9b. Said lever 9 is held normally in contact with the stop 9Cbythe contractile spring 9d. The tractionpiece o is pinjointed to a lever 22, which is fulcrumed at 22 and connected by a link 22b with the lever 9. Then the momentumpiece occupies its normal position, the arm to which bar 8 is attached acts upon the pulldown 23 to hold the traction-piece away from contact with the momentum-piece m. lVhen the performer acts upon the arm y3 and the jack 4 moves the momentum-wheel in the opposite direction to that in which watch-hands move, the lever 9 is held against the stop 9C, the wheel 9 stands away from the frictiondriver C, and the bar 3 moves up loosely and freely between said wheel and the frictiondriver, but the instant the momentum-piece begins to return to its normal position, the traction-piece o, acting through the lever 22, link 22', lever 9 and wheel 9, presses the bar 3 firmly against the momentum-piece, so that it 'rolls in contact therewith and conveys power thereto while the momentum-piece is returning to its normal position. Just before the momentum-piece m reaches this position its inwardly-extending arm strikes the pulldown 23, thus withdrawing the traction-piece oi from contact with the momentum-piece, and leaving the wheel 9 free to start retreat from the friction-driver C, and freeing the bar 3 from contact therewith.

Fig. 9, which is a sectional elevation similar to Figs. 7 and 8, illustrates my invention with the momentum-piece connected with the friction-driver by a pawl and ratchet-wheel, instead of the traction arrangement before described. 3 is the rock-shaft; 3 and 3, the rock-shaft arms; 4, the jack, and 4b the jackstop, all as before described. 32 is a belt-pulley connected by a belt 33 with the frictiondriver C. 34 is a ratchet-wheel attached fast to the belt-pulley 32. m is the momentumpiece and m' is an axle upon which the beltpulley and attached ratchet 34 and the momentum-piece m are loosely mounted. 35 is a casting attached fast to the momentumpiece m., and 35 is a pawl or dog hung on a 8 is the bar before-mentioned pin 35b carried by the part 3G is apushup or pitman whose upper end is connected with the casting 35 and momentum-piece m by a pin 36 and whose lower end lies immediately over the jack. 37 is a guide-lever connected with the lower end of the push-up 3G. is a stop for the dog or pawl 35, p is a strong coiled spring lying around the fixed axle m', between the momentum-piece m and the ratchet 34, one end of said spring being attached to the momentum-piece m and the other to the shaft m.

The operation is as follows: When the rockshaft arm 3 is pressed down by the foot of the performer, the arm 3b rises and through the jack 4 and pitman 36 throws the momentum-piece lm around in the direction in which watch-hands move. Vhen the momentumpiece m returns to its normal position under the influence of the returning-spring p, the pawl 35 engages with the teeth of the wheel 34 and gives out to said Wheel 34 the power communicated to the momentum-piece by the preceding depression of the arm or pedal 3. The belt 33 conveys the power from the ratchet 34 and pulley 32 to the friction-driver C. A little before the momentum-piece reaches its normal position, the horizontal arm of the pawl 35 comes in contact with the stop 3S, whereby the vertical arm of said pawl is retracted from the ratchet 34.

The momentum-piece may be made of any suitable form. That described I consider as useful and convenient as any. The tractional arrangement by which a frictional connection is established between the momentumpiece and the friction-driver may be made in a great many different ways; and the tractionpiece might be pressed as well against a part moved by or with the momentum-piece as against the momentum-piece itself.

The arrangement of j ack or escapement may of course be varied in a great many different ways.

I do not claim herein the arrangement of hammer, contact-piece, contact-piece carrier, escapement and check illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The same forms the subject-matter of another application of even date herewith, Serial No. 467,096. Nor do I claim herein the arrangement of parts for mounting the friction-driver so as to reduce the friction thereof. The same forms the subject-matter of another application of even date herewith,

'Serial No. 467,097; but

Vhat I do claim herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' l. In a pianoforte, and in combination, a rotati vely-mounted friction-driver and means for impelling the same, including a pedal, an escapement and a part operated by said pedal through the intervention of said escapement.

2. In a pianoforte and in combination, a rotatively-mounted friction-driver and means for impelling the same including a pedal, an escapement, and a momentum-piece, the momentum-'piece being set in motion by the pedal IOO IIO

through the intervention of the eseapement, and arranged in such a manner that it is free to move on after the pedal ceases to impel it.

In a pianoforte and in combination, a rotatively-mouiited friction-driver and means :for impelling the same including a pedal; an escapement; a momentum-piece, set in. motion by the pedal through the intervention of the escapement and arranged in such a manner that it is free to move on after the pedal ceases to impel it; and an opposing spring, or equivalent, serving to resist the movement of the momentum-piece in the direction in which it is impelled by the pedal and to return said momentum-piece to its normal position.

i. In a pianoforte and in combination, a rotatively-mounted friction-driver an d means ior impelling the same including a pedal; an eseapement; a momentum-piece, said momentum-piece being' set in motion by the pedal through the intervention oi the escapement, and arranged in such a manner that it is free to move on after the pedal ceases toimpel it; an opposing spring, or equivalent, serving to oppose the movement of the momentum-piece in the direction in which it is impelled by the pedal and to return said momentum-piece to its normal position; andan arrangement serving to connect the momentum-piece with the friction-driver during the return movement of the momentum-piece, so that the momentum-piece, during its return movement, communicates to the `friction-d river, in great part, the power which it reeeived from the pedal.

5. In a pianoforte and in combination, a rotatively-moun ted friction-dri ver an d means for impelling the same including a pedal and momentum-piece, set in motion by the pedal, and arranged in such a manner that it is free to move on after the pedal ceases to impel it.

(i. In a pianoforte and in combination, a 11'otatively-inounted friction-driver an d means for impelling the same :including a pedal; a momentum-piece set in motion by said pedal, and arranged in such a manner that it is 'free to move on after the pedal ceases to impel it; and an opposing spring, or Vf luivalent, serving to resist the movement oi' the momentumpiece in the direction in which it is impelied by the pedal, and to return said momentumpiece to its normal position.

7. In a pianoforte and in combination, arotatively-mounted friction-driver and means for impelling the same including a pedal; a momentum-piece, set in motion by the pedal and arranged in such a manner that it is free to move on after the pedal ceases to impel it; an opposing spring serving to resist the movement of the momentum-piece in the direction in -which it is impelled by the pedal, and to return said momentum-piece to its normal position; and an arrangement serving to connect the momentum-piece with the frictiondriver during the return movement of the momentum-piece, so that said momentumpiece, during its return movement, communieates to the friction-driver, in great part, the power which it received Afrom the pedal.

S. In a pianoforte and in combination, a rotatively-mounted friction-driver and an intermittingly-acting pedal i'or impelling said lrietion-driver, said pedal being arranged to move independently ol' the friction-driver.

9. In a pianoforte and in con'lbination, a rotatively-mounted friction-driver, a pedal; a part impelled thereby; an d an intermittin gl yacting frictional connection serving to transmit power from said pedal to said`ji`rietion driver.

10. In a pianoforte and in ccnnbination, a rotatively-monnted :friction-driver; a pedal; an eseapement; a part impelled by the pedal through the intervention ol the eseapemeut; and an intermittiugly-acting frietional connection serving to transmit power to the vtrietion-driver from the bei'me-meutioned part impelled by the pedal.

l1. In a pianoforte and in combination, a rotatively-mounted friction-driver; a pedal; a 1n omentum-pieee set in motion by said pedal and arranged in such a manner that itis tree to move on after said pedal ceases to impel it; an opposing spring, or equivalent, serving to resist the movement of the momentum-pieee in the direction Vin which it is impelled bythe pedal, and to return said momentuni-piece to its normal position; and a traction :wrangement controlled by said momentum-pieee, and serving to establish a frietional connection between said momentum-piece and the trietion-driver, during the return movement ot' the momentum-piece.

l2. In a pianoforte and in combination, a rotatively-mouilted vl'riction-driverg a pedal; an escapement; a momentum-pieee, set in motion by the pedal, through the intervention of the eseapement, and arranged in such a manner that it is free to move on after the pedal ceases to impel it; an opposing spring, or equivalent, serving to resist the movement oi' said momentum-piece :in the direction in which it is impelled by the pedal, and to return said momentum-piece to its normal position, and a traction arrangement controlled by said momentum-piece, and serving to establish a trictioual connection between said momentum-piece and the friction-d river, during the return movement ol' the momentumpiece.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at ll'rashington, in the District ot' Columbia, this 17th day ot March, il. l). 15102).

'IIIADDEUS (IAIIIIJL. britnesses:

MARGARET Cixi-mm, C. S. DRURY.

IOO 

